Towing

We offer complete installations of dinghy setups, from Blue Ox to Roadmaster. Setup takes about a full day and we offer package pricing on complete setups. Leave it to the experts on this task to keep you secure down the road!

Dinghy TowingDinghy towing or towing your vehicle behind your motorcoach with all four wheels on the ground is by far the safest and most convenient way to bring your passenger car, truck or SUV. Although no manufacturer has yet to engineer a plug-and-play setup directly from the factory, it's never been simpler to equip both dinghy and motorhome for road usage.

When safely dinghy towing there are some considerations you will want to take when setting up your towing system. Make sure there is a solid, properly designed and installed linkage between the vehicle and the RV. Your hitch receivers and tow bars must be in good working condition. Hitch receivers must be bolted in place using the receiver's hardware kit and installed per instructions.

Towing Checklist

Make sure the equipment is properly rated for the dinghy's weight and the gross combined weight rating

Ensure the hitch height is accurate

Check that all hitch bolts, tow-bar and baseplate fasteners are securely tightened

Confirm that all hitch and wiring connections are secured and engaged

Check motorhome and dinghy for proper function of taillights, brakelights, and turn signals

Check tire pressure on motorhome, dinghy, and spare tires

Ensure the dinghy is properly set up for towing based on the instructions in your owner's manual

Ensure appropriate fuses are pulled or the battery is disconnected if applicable

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Is My Vehicle Towable?Click below for the latest Web Guide to Dinghy Towing, sponsored by MotorHome Magazine, that provides a selection of informative articles and a listing of new vehicles ready-made to enhance your RVing lifestyle. If your current model year is not listed below, check your owner's manual or give us a call at 1-800-343-6255 to ensure you can tow your vehicle without damage to the transmission.

For starters, the hard hookup between coach and car (or truck or SUV) has become an easy one-person operation: self-aligning tow bars make cinching up a breeze; with some tow-bar designs, even routing cables and wiring through hollow arms, the connection is more than easy, it's eye-pleasing. Plus, manufacturers are offering an array of accessories to help keep it that way: An RV underskirt, fitted beneath the equipment, will safeguard the dinghy vehicle and towing hardware from debris. For more ironclad protection, nearly indestructible rock guards are available that quickly attach to the tow bar and shield the dinghy from road refuse. Yet another device to aid in safe dinghy transport, supplemental braking systems have likewise evolved. Portable systems can be installed in less than an hour and even permanent installations remain unobtrusive.

Dinghy brakes may not be mandatory in some states -- yet -- but anytime you add a few tons of weight to the back of your motorhome, you really do need a way to slow it down without taxing the brakes on your coach. More than 100 passenger cars, SUVs, light trucks and hybrids that have been certified for four-wheels-down towing. The list includes many of the newest vehicles -- including a plethora in the subcompact car segment. For all-terrain fun, there are plenty of 4WD vehicles to choose from. As motorhomes continue to grow in size and stature, life on the road has never been more comfortable. A dinghy adds to that enjoyment.

On the Road Towing Tips

Observe the speed limit for towing in the individual state or province you are traveling in

Maintain an adequate stopping distance from the vehicle in front of you - a 5 second interval is recommended

Avoid towing in icy or snowy weather

Pay attention to merging traffic, and be prepared to take evasive actions when necessary

Avoid making tight turns, doing so puts a lot of pressure on tow bars

Walk around the motorhome and dinghy and inspect all connections and look for signs of issues every time you stop

Tow DolliesIf you cannot tow your current vehicle all four on the ground and don't want to add a lube pump to the transmission or disconnect the drive shaft, the next option is a tow dolly. These get the front wheels of the towed vehicle off the ground.

There are some advantages to using a dolly: By putting a front wheel drive vehicle on a dolly you will not need a lube pump or other device to make the vehicle towable. Dollies are a great option if you intend to use it with multiple vehicles or want to time-share it with friends.

If braking is a concern, be sure to check if the manufacturer has tow dollies available with brakes.

North American Weight Limits for Towing without Supplemental BrakesSource: American Automobile AssociationDigest of Motor Laws, 2010 Edition

WEIGHT LIMIT BY POUNDS OR OTHER RESTRICTION (SEE 'KEY')

Alabama

3,000

Kentucky

'A'

North Dakota

'C'

Alberta

2,000

Alaska

5,000

Louisiana

3,000

Ohio

2,000

British Columbia

4,400

Arizona

3,000

Maine

3,000

Oklahoma

3,000

Manitoba

'A'

Arkansas

3,000

Maryland

3,000

Oregon*

'A'

New Brunswick

3,000

California

1,500

Massachusetts

10,000

Pennsylvania

3,000

Newfoundland

'A'

Colorado

3,000

Michigan

3,000

Rhode Island

4,000

Northwest Territories

'C'

Connecticut

3,000

Minnesota

3,000

South Carolina

3,000

Nova Scotia

4,000

Delaware

4,000

Mississippi

2,000

South Dakota

3,000

Ontario

3,000

D.C

3,000

Missouri

'B'

Tennessee

3,000

Prince Edward Island

3,300

Florida

3,000

Montana

3,000

Texas

4,500

Quebec

2,860

Georgia

3,000

Nebraska

3,000

Utah

'A'

Saskatchewan

3,000

Hawaii

3,000

Nevada

1,500

Vermont

3,000

Yukon Territory

2,000

Idaho

1,500

New Hampshire

'A'

Virginia

3,000

Illinois

3,000

New Jersey

'C'

Washington

3,000

Indiana

3,000

New Mexico

3,000

West Virginia

3,000

Iowa

3,000

New York

1,000

Wisconsin

3,000

Kansas

'A'

North Carolina

4,000

Wyoming

'A'

IMPORTANT! EVERY REASONABLE EFFORT WAS MADE TO VERIFY THE ACCURACY OF THIS INFORMATION; HOWEVER, LICHTSINN MOTORS, INC. DOES NOT WARRANT ITS ACCURACY AND DISCLAIMS ALL LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIMS OR DAMAGES WHICH MAY RESULT FROM ERRORS OR OMISSIONS.